I created a new one on my run-commute this morning. I've been in some serious distance training for over a month in preparation for my first 100-mile ultra marathon and April was really challenging. I've been tip-toeing a fine line between increasing my training volume and overtraining. Well, today on my run in to work, I found myself saying, (in my head) "this is me getting stronger"

Well, mine is a pretty vain strain of thoughts! To keep going I think about what an improvement my body will show, not to mention my ability to take on the world when my route comes to an end!! haha..I think about a nice bum and legs...wouldn't that motivate anyone?!

Does anyone remember a TV show a few years ago called "Titus?" The father of Christopher Titus was played by Stacey Keech, and a running gag on the show was the father telling his son, "Don't be a wussy!"

Now when I'm running (or doing any other kind of exercise) and I feel like I need to stop, or I can't breathe, or I'm going to cry or throw up, I can hear Stacey Keech growling in my ear: "Dont' be a wussy!" It works.

Oh, and WineJunky, thank you for posting the Bob Dylan lyric. I'm a fan, but I personnaly know very few others.

Last week when I was doing my 20 miles in prep for the Seattle marathon I started signing "the ants go marching one by one etc" couldn't get it out of my head sang up to 10 the started over...it was maddening but kind of hilarious. I'm also looking for a job right now and find myself chanting Al Frnaken's "you're good enough, you're smart enought and gosh darn it people like me"...thank god for long runs...I think!